30 fishermen missing off Catanduanes

Authorities are searching for about 30 fishermen who went missing in waters off Catanduanes while tropical storm Ambo (international name: Mawar) was passing by the province Friday afternoon, police said.

The chairman of Brgy. Batalay, Bato, reported the incident to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) 4 p.m. Friday, an hour after the fishermen were supposed to return, Pitallano said in a phone interview.

Pitallano said the PDRRMC organized a search shortly after recieving the report, but members of the police, Coast Guard, and other agencies were unable to mount the operation because it was already getting dark and there were big waves. (John Roson)